Building unit



A. w. POWELL. 2,212,184

' BUILDING UNIT Filed Deo. 7. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 20, 1940.

wnwvilxxl .HUNMHM lam 9% e R1 Mm M @m irHlHw/l( JINI 2 E A 9 l Wy@ 103 Jll Patented Aug. 20, y1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE r f 2,212,184 L Q i BUILDINGUNIT i Angle Powell, Boerne,` TeX. Application December 7, 1938, Serial No. 244,477

's claim. (c1. 72-40) y I My invention relates to building structures, and

has among its objects and advantages the provi` sion of improved steel-barred construction blocks.

An object of myinvention is to provide a building block of such construction as to facilitate assembly of `the blocks in a wall structure in whichfnovel means are provided forefectively keying the blocks.

A further object is to provide arbuilding block construction so designed as to permit quick and easy erection of the wall structure in which novel means are provided for keying the blocks into a unitary structure in such manner as to eliminate V necessity for a bonding medium, extra reinforcing rods,'metallic guides, bolts and the like.

Another object is tot provide building blocks which may be formed of originally plastic material in which novel key means in the nature of n rods are incorporated and so arranged as to provide Vertical load-supporting reinforcement eX- tending the full height of the Wall.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is' a fragmentary view of a wall constructed of my blocks with certain parts illus-v -trated in section for the sake of clearness;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the'line 2-2 of Figure 1;-

Figure 3 is a sectional vieW along the'line 3,-3 of Figure l; i

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the lowermost foundation blocks;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of one of the second course foundation blocks;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one ofthe wall blocks; i

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a similar Wall block; v.

Figure 8 is `an elevational View of one of the `Wall blocks provided with Ventilating openings;

Figure 9 is a similar View of one of the wall blocks'provided with one Ventilating opening;

Figure I0 is a perspective View of one of the eave plates;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional plate illustrated in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the plate illustrated in Figure 10; and

View of the Figure 13 is a plan view of a fragmentary wall structure illustrating the manner inwhich cor-` side face 42.

i6. Upon the course i4 I mount a plurality of courses I8 of building blocks 20.

Figure 4 illustrates one of the foundation blocks l2. Theblock I2 has anchored therein three steel bars 22, 24 and`26. yThese three bars extend lonn gitudinallyof theblock l2 and lie horizontally when the block is incorporated in the wall structure. Midwaybet'ween the twobars 24 and 28 I provide a horizontal bore 28.

Bar 22 is positioned midway between two horizontal bores which also extend longitudinally of the block. Bar 22 and the bores 3l`lie in a common plane spaced from the bottom face 32 of the' block the same distance that the plane of the bars 24 and 26 and the bore 28 lies below vthe top face l34. Both ends of "the bars- 22,`24 and 26 extend beyond the end faces 36 ofthe block equal distances, each of which distances equals y half the length of the block.

Bars 24 and 26 are arranged in` parallel rela` tion-with the bore 28, and the spacing between the bar24 and the bore 28correspond's exactly lto the spacing between the bore 28 and the bar 26.,

In the lcourse lll, the. blocks l2 arepositioned` y with their faces 36 in abutting relation. I The projecting ends of the bars 22, 24 and 26 will extend intofcorresponding bores inthe adjacent block I2 half its length. -'The adjacent block will differ in construction only in that the bar 220i Figure 4 will be anchored in the .position of the bore 23, while the bars 24 and `26`will be positioned in the location of the 'bores 30. *Bore 28 will take the position of therb'ar 22, vwhile thebores 30 will `take the positions of the barsy 24 and 26.1 Thus;

the blocks I2 may be assembled in end to end relation with the reinforcing and' keying bars so arranged'as to provide six continuous reinforcing elements extending the full lengthof the founda'fl Y tionfcourse Ill;` Y n Referring again to Figure 4, the ends of two` bars 38'are anchored in the block |2and are,

positioned at right angles tothe fa'ce 4G, in addition to being disposed in a plane paralleling the two-thirds "its thickness. Bore 44 is positioned l'etvkveen, `the. bars 38 `I provide a v bore 44 which extends inwardly of the block about exactly half way between the two bars 38. A second bore 46 also extends through the block about two-thirds its thickness. One of the bars 88 is positioned exactly half-way between the bores 44 and 46, while these bores and the bars 38 are positioned in a common: plane. The block is also provided with two bars 48 and twol bores 58,

' which bars and bores are relatively positioned in the same manner as the rods38 and the bores 44 and'46, but are spaced from the side face 52 a greater distance than the spacing between the bars 38 and the bores 44 and `46 and their respective side face 42.

Figure 5 illustrates one of the foundation blocks I6 in the course I4. Blocks I6 are of the same height as the blocks 28, but all the blocks illustrated in Figure 1 are of the same length, with the blocks I6 equally overlapping two of the blocks I2. Foundation `blocks I6 have a thickness approximately half that of the blocks I2, as illustrated in Figure 2. According to Figure 5,; the block I6 is provided. with two bars 54 having their ends extending beyond the faces `56 and 58 distances equal to half the height of the block. The block is also provided with two bars 68 of the same length as the bars 54. B ars 54 lie in a common plane with two bores 62, while the bars 68 are positioned in` a common plane with two ,bores 64. y

Bars 54 and the bores 62 lie in aplane parallel- Ving the face 66, while the bars 68 and the bores 64 lie in a plane parallelingthe face 68, but at a 'greater distance from the face, When-the blocks I6 are placed in position onrthe blocksl'I2, one bar 38 and one bar 48 associated with one of the blocks I2 will enter one'opening or bore 62 and one bore 64 in the superposed block I6. At the same time,. one bar 54 andone of the bars 68 will enter one opening 46 and one of the openings 58 so as to key the two blocks. The adjacent I block I2 underneath the superposed block I6 will istv be connected with the latter inthe same manner. vI'hus one block I6 effectively keys j two blocks I2 in connected relation. Y

Referring to Figure 6, the block 28 is provided with two Vertical bores 18 and two vertical bars 12. Bores 18 are yspaced to receive the ltwo bars 54 of the block I6 underneaththe samegwhile the lower endsl ofthe bars 1'2 are arranged to pass ,into the bores 62. The lower ends of the bars 12 `"will abutv the bars38 associated with one of the `foundation blocks I2, as illustrated-in Figure 1. Face 58 of the blockr- I6 is provided with a pair of ribs `14, and the lower end of the block 28 is m5.VA provided with a groove 16 for receiving one of 'the ribs 14, with the face 16 of the block 28 lying flush with the outer wall face of theA foundation block I6.

Referring to Figure 2, the blocks 28 are as- 60u sembled to provide an outer wall shell 88 and an inner wall shell 82 spaced to provide an air space 84. The blocks 28 in the lower course 28 of the wall shell 82 are arranged sothat thev other ribs 14 on the building blocks I6 lie in the aligned 'grooves 18 in theblocks 28. The interftting relation between -the ribs 14 and the grooves 18 provides interlocking connections between the blocks to restrain the same from relative lateral shifting when viewed according to Figure 2. .Thus ;the blocks 28 may be of` relatively thin propor- `vtions so as to permita double-walled structure with an air space therebetween in a wall of relatively limited thickness.

With the blocks assembled according to Figure 1.1i all rods are arrangedk in abutting relation throughout the full height of the wall structure lapping joints. Both blocks 28 of Figures 6 and 7 are identical in construction. Each block includes two ilanges86 having angular faces 88 arranged. to fit against the same angular faces of the adjacent blocks. Figure 13 illustrates the manner in which the flanges 86 are arranged in overlapping relation when assembled in the wall structure.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate one of the eave plates which cap the upper end of the wall structure made up of the shells 88 and 82 as illustrated in Figure 2. Referring to Figure 10, the eave plate 98 comprises sheet metal bent to provide troughs `92 spaced to align with the ribs 94 on the upper ends of the blocks 28 in the upper;V

courses I8 of the two shells 88 and 82, VThe plates ofthe trough 92 are providedwith openings 96 to provide anchorage forfbolts which may bef employed in securing angle plates and the like for mounting joist and rafters (not shown).

Ends of bars 12 projecting above the shells' 88 and 82 may be cut off to permit mounting of the plates 98. Theseplates are spaced across the jointsk of the blocks 28 and the upper courses i8. Each plate is provided with four bars 89 which are arranged to project into the bores 18 and to meet the ends of the bars 12 as illustrated in Figure 1. Bars 98 are provided with transverse openings in the upper ends for the reception of pins |88 which permits the bars to be shifted to securelocation thereof so as to align with the bores 18.

Figure- 10 illustrates the trough as being provided with four openings |82 for selective reception nf the. pins |88 spaced according to the spacing between the bores 18 and the bars 12, so as to permit the bars 98 to be adjusted to the available bores 18.

In Figures 13, I illustrate the manner in which the wall structure is built to provide a corner; Blocks 28 in the positions |84 and |86 are of the same proportions as the block 28 illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. The corner block |88 is built In someY cases it may be desirable or necessary` to employ blocks in the shells 88 and 82 of shorter length than the regulation blocks 28. Figure 13 illustrates three-quarter length blocks of this type at |I2. A half length block is illustrated at ||4. In any event, the half or three-quarter length blocks are provided with bars and bores for keying connection in the same manner as the regulation blocks 28. The rod and bores are spaced according to the spacing of the blocks 28 so that the units are interchangeable, and the bore or bores in one block will always align with the bars in other blocks..

Figure 13 also illustrates twoblocks I|4 and ||6 as Vhaving right-.angular faces H8, which faces may vdefine wall and door openings. Block I2 in the |22 position .of Figure 13 may be of three-quarter length to define the outside corner of the building.

angular faces 88 in each course I8 are reversed with respect to Lthe same angular faces in the next higher or lower course. Thus it will be seenl that the rib Yand groove keys at the bottom and top ends of the blocks in combination'with the reverse overlapping of the flanges 86 pro- Vide an arrangement in which the joints are staggered and eectivelykeyedl `All the bars projected into bores in adjacent building units t snugly in those boresA so as to provide effective keying of the wall structure. In Figures l and 2 I illustrate one of a number of brackets |28 provided with a flange |30 which overlies the ledge |32 and is anchored to foundation blocks I4 by bolts |34. In Figure 1, the `bracket y|28 includes aU-shaped formation |36 ^`for the reception of the iioor joist |38. The floor ofthe building is indicated generally at |40. Figure 8 illustrates one of the blocks 20 as being provided with a transverse opening |42 and a slot |44, n 4

Figure 2 illustrates the slot |44 as being located just underneath the floor ME! with they opening |42 located immediately above the floor. The slot and the opening may be aligned by a suitable metallic liner |616. In any event, the slot 44 and the opening |42 establish communication between the room underneath the ioor and the one above.

Figure 9 illustrates one of the blocks 20 as being provided with one opening |48. This block is arranged in the outer shell d@ or inner shell 32 of Figure 1 in the upper course i8. This type of block may be employed for interior' or exterior Ventilating purposes, but does not necessarily constitute one of the essential blocks in the general wall structure' of Figure l.

I claim:

1. In a building structure, a plurality of precast blocks adapted to be arranged in superimposed courses to provide a Wall, said blocks being 40 provided with precast vertical openings, and a plurality of rods extending vertically thro-ugh the blocks and'beyond the top and bottom ends thereof distances equal to half the height of their respective blocks, said rods being precast in said blocks, the rods'of the blocks in one course being receivable in the openings in the blocks in the adjacent course below and the adjacent course thereabove, said rods in the assembled relation of the blocks being arranged in end-to-end abut- 0 ting relation throughout the full height of the wall and fitting snugly in said openings.

2. In a building structure, a plurality of precast blocks adapted to be arranged in superimposed courses to provide a wall, said blocks being 55 provided with precast vertical openings, a plurality of rods extending vertically through the blocks and precast therein and extending beyond the top and bottom ends thereof distances equal to half therheight of their respective blocks,

0 the rods of the blocks in one course being receivable in the openings in the blocks in the adjacent course below and the adjacent course thereabove, said rods in the assembled relation of the blocks being arranged in end-to-end abutting relation 65 throughoutthe full height of the wall and iittingV snugly in said openings, a course of precast foun dation blocks underneath the lowermost course of said first blocks, said foundation blocks being provided with precast bores for snugly receiving the rods projecting downwardly from the blocks in said lowerrnost course, and rods precast in the foundation blocks snugly receivable within the openings in the blocks in said lowermost course for engagement with the rods therein.

75 3. In a building structure, a plurality of precastA blocks adapted to be arranged in` superim-` posed courses to provide a wall, said blocks being provided with precast vertical openings, a plurality of rods 4extending vertically through the blocks and precast therein and extending beyond the top and bottom ends thereof distances equal to half the height of their respective blocks, the

dation blocks, said second course of foundation blocks being provided with-precast bores `for4 snugly receiving the rods projecting beyond the lower ends of the foundation blocks in said firstrnentioned course and precast rods snugly -receivable within the bores in the foundation blocks in the rst course, said rods in the assembly of all said blocks being arranged in end-to-end relation throughout the full height of the wall structure.

4. In a building structure, a plurality of precast blocks adapted to be arranged in superimposed Acourses to provide a wall, said block .being provided with precast vertical openings, a

plurality of rods extending vertically through the blocks and precast therein and extending beyond the top and bottom ends thereof distances equal to half the height of their respective blocks, the lrods of the blocks in one course being snugly receivable in the openings in the blocks in the adjacent course below and the adjacent course thereabove, said rods in the assembled relation of the blocks being arranged in end-to-end abutting relation throughout the full height of the wall, and eave plates mounted on-the top of the top course having rods attached thereto for insertion in the openings in the blocks in the top course.

5. In a building structure, a plurality of precast blocks adapted to be arranged in superimposed courses to provide a wall, said block being provided with precast vertical openings, and a plurality of rods extending vertically through the blocks and precast therein and eX- tending beyond the top and bottoni ends thereof distances equal to half the height of their respective blocks, the rods of the blocks in one course being snugly receivable in the openings in the blocks in the adjacent course below and the adjacent course thereabove, said lrods in Athe assembled relation of the blocks being arranged in end-to-end abutting relation throughout the full height of the wall, said blocks having overlapping flanges.

6. In a building structure, a plurality of precast blocks adapted to be arranged in superimposed courses to provide a "wall, said block being provided with precast vertical openings, a plurality of rods extending vertically through the blocks and precast therein and extending beyond the top and bottom ends thereof distances equal to half the height of their respective blocks, the rods of the blocks in one co'urse being snugly receivable in the openings in the blocks in the adjacent course below and the adjacent course thereabove, said rods in the assembled relation of the blocks being arranged in end-to-end abutting'relation throughout the full height of the wall, and means cooperable between the blocks in one course and the adjacent course to restrain the courses from lateral displacement.

7. In a building structure, a plurality of precast blocks Aadapted to be arranged in superimposed courses to provide a wall, said block being provided with precast vertical openings, and a plurality of 'rods extending vertically lor'through the blocks and precast therein and extending beyond the top and bottom ends thereof distances equal to half the height of their respective blocks, the rods of the blocks in one course being snugly receivable in the'openings in the lliiblocks in the adjacent course below and the adjacent course thereabove, said rods in the assembled relation of the blocks being arranged in endto-end abutting relation throughout the full height of the wall, said blocks being provided 20l:with cooperating means for restraining the blocks from lateral displacement.

8. In a building structure, a plurality of precast blocks adapted to be arranged in superimposed courses to provide a wall, said block being provided with precast vertical openings, and a plurality of rods extending vertically through the blocks and precast therein and extending beyond the top and bottom ends there- ANGLE W. POWELL.

vof distances equal to half the height of their 

